TED-Ed helps students become expert presenters

By eSchool News Staff

January 14th, 2014

TED-Ed, the educational arm of TED Conferences, has launched a new classroom-based program to promote media and presentation literacy among students.

The program, TED-Ed Clubs, has been piloted in 100 schools around the world and shown great results so far, the organization says—particularly when it comes to getting shy students more engaged in education.

TED-Ed Clubs provides a free, flexible framework for students to discuss, pursue, prepare, and present their “big ideas.” On the project’s website, you can find a step-by-step guide for starting a TED-Ed Club at your local school or community organization, as well as ideas from other TED-Ed Clubs around the world.

The project’s goal is to help club members deliver their own short, TED-style talks, while other members may record and edit the talks on video.

“In today’s world, a person’s ability to effectively and creatively communicate their ideas can be the difference between endless opportunities opened, and endless opportunities missed,” said TED-Ed Director Logan Smalley in a press release.

“Right now, there are countless young minds forming the ideas that will define our future. TED-Ed Clubs invites and celebrates that future by providing teachers a tool to nurture their students’ passions, and by providing students a platform to practice presenting their ever-evolving ideas.”

TED-Ed Clubs are open to students ages 8 though 18 and require a minimum of one adult educator per club. The goal is for club members to present their ideas to their peers in a TED-style talk, and—with the permission of students, teachers, and parents—to nominate exceptional presentations to be featured on the TED-Ed website. Some young speakers also might be invited to attend and present at TEDYouth conferences happening annually throughout the world.

TED-Ed is an extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas. The growing TED-Ed video library features carefully curated educational videos, and the TED-Ed website helps educators “flip” their classroom by tailoring any video they find online to create customized lesson plans, distribute the videos publicly or privately, and monitor students’ progress.